Mourners turned out in their droves to attend the funeral of an Oxford-born soldier, after a social media campaign gained national press coverage.

Funeral directors in Wales were unable to trace the next of kin of friends of 85-year-old Harold Morgan, who spent the last 14 years living in a nursing home after a stroke.

Worrying that no-one would turn up to the funeral, Revd Rachel Simpson of St Tathan Church in the Vale of Glamorgan sent out an appeal on Facebook for people to attend the Welsh Guardsman’s funeral.  

Shortly after, the story was covered on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The service, which took place today, was attended by local people touched by the appeal, as well as 30 students from The Military Preparation College in Cardiff.

The military hopefuls flanked the coffin and the Welsh Guards Association ensured the coffin was draped in the regimental colours.

The event was so well attend that police had to assist with controlling parking. Dozens of mourners also stood outside and listened to the service via loudspeaker.

After hearing the appeal, members of the Welsh Railways Research Circle also attended. Mr Morgan, a keen railway enthusiast, co-founded the organisation in the 1970s.

Mr Morgan was born in Oxford and lived in Carmenthshire before moving to the Vale of Glamorgan.  

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